Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
FALL 2012
celebratedliving.com
26
isreturning tohisWallStreet
rootson thebigscreenasacorporateraider (first
go-roundheplayed theprince toJuliaRoberts’ hooker-
turned-Cinderella in1990’s
PrettyWoman
, apopular
role, but certainlynothis favorite) in thenewfilm
Arbitrage
(Lionsgate/RoadsideAttractions).Acomplex
taleofhighfinance, love, family, andbetrayal, themovie
stars thecharismaticactorasRobertMiller, an imper-
iledbillionairehedge-fundmanagerwhose lifehangs in
thebalancedue toaseriesofduplicitouspersonal and
professionaldealings.Thesuspense thrillerprovides
Gerewithyetanothermorallyambiguouscharacter
study; this timehe isamanstruggling toavoid justice.
Attracted toMiller’sdarkside that residesbeneatha
seeminglyperfectexterior,Gere found thefilm’scaution-
arymessagecompelling, explaining, “Thefilmresonated
witha lotof thingsgoingon in theworld.There ismoral
andethical ambiguitynot just in thefinancialworld. It
was this feeling Igot from itabout theethicsofour time
—whatare theboundariesofacceptablebehaviors—not
just inbusinessorpolitics, butpersonally?”
While themultifaceted
actoradmits tohavingno
real rolemodels for thecharacter,he toured theNewYork
StockExchangeand lunchedwithWallStreetpower
brokersaspartofhisresearch.Assistancecame from
psychiatristand traderDr.HenryJarecki, the fatherof
thefilm’sdirectorNicholasJarecki,whonotonlyprovid-
edbusiness insightbutallowedhisfive-storymansion in
NewYork’sGramercyPark todoubleasMiller’shome.
“Nick’s father isoneof thoseverysuccessfulfinancial
guyswhodoescommoditiesandknows thisworldvery
well,”Geresays. “Wespent timewithhimandhis
cronies in the legal, government, andfinancialworlds. I
like todoa lotof researchand justhangandwatchpeople
do their job.Whatare thephotoson theirdesk,whatdo
theyretain,howmanycupsof coffeedo theyhave,what
is the feeling,howdo theymultitask?Theyarealladren-
alinepeople.Whenwewent to theNYSE, Isaw70- to
80-year-oldguys thatnever left; it’s likegoing to thecir-
cus for them. It’sveryhighstakes, sexy, and fun, and they
still seem tohave theirboyishways.”
WorkingwithdirectorJarecki proved tobea re-
wardingexperience forGere,who initiallymet himat
theBedfordPostovera three-hourmeeting in thecozy
rustic-decor-filled restaurant. “Richardbringsa real
dynamism to therole,”saysJarecki. “He’ssuchanattrac-
tivepersonphysicallyandspiritually thateven though
hischaracter isprettydarkandchallenging, youarewith
himandyouunderstandhisactions.Hereallyhas the
slickness, confidence, andhumanity tobring to that
world— tobe thatcipher, thatdoubleman.”
Gere
BLACK&WHITE PHOTOS:
©NIGELPARRY/CPi,WARDROBE STYLINGBYCHRISTINEHAHN,GROOMINGBYBIRGITTE FORRENE FURTERER, TOP LEFT:GIORGIOARMANIV-NECK SWEATER,BRIONIGRAY JACKET;BOTTOMRIGHT: J.CREWGRAY T-SHIRT,GIORGIOARMANIBLACKSWEATER JACKET;BOTTOM LEFT:
© LIONSGATE/ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS
Below: Richard Gere as billionaire Robert Miller, opposite Susan Sarandon, in
Arbitrage
.
SEE THE INTRIGUING
ARBITRAGE
MOVIE TRAILERAT
CELEBRATEDLIVING.COM.
